Hi all - potential Z4M owner needs some honest advice...
- Thread starter Chunkomunko
- Start date
Who cares, when they look like that :bonk:woozzle said:are they lady boy's
Are you familiar with ladyboys?Chunkomunko
Member
Thanks again for all your replies. Very helpful post wondermike, it was good to see a realistic brake down of potential ownership costs over the 2 years. With those figures the 3.0 would be a sensible option and possibly a better starting point in Z4 ownership.
If i'm being honest, the M does seem out of my reach for the time being but I won't be able to truly say that if I had the cash sitting next to me tomorrow I wouldn't be going out and buying one.
It boils down to me then and what i'm prepared to put myself though financially the sacrifices the ownership of the M would incur.
I'll end with a big thanks then, you should all be very proud of this forum. I've been a member of many and few have given a 'newbie' so much advice and things to think about. :happyclap: :happyclap: :happyclap: :happyclap:
I'll be sticking round here, nice place.
If i'm being honest, the M does seem out of my reach for the time being but I won't be able to truly say that if I had the cash sitting next to me tomorrow I wouldn't be going out and buying one.
It boils down to me then and what i'm prepared to put myself though financially the sacrifices the ownership of the M would incur.
I'll end with a big thanks then, you should all be very proud of this forum. I've been a member of many and few have given a 'newbie' so much advice and things to think about. :happyclap: :happyclap: :happyclap: :happyclap:
I'll be sticking round here, nice place.
Let's be clear - the OP said in the original post that the £800 per month was after all bills (including insurance). So that reduces Wondermike's averages considerably.
I suppose it comes down to whether you are a spender or saver. There isn't enough space here to debate the merits of each approach.
Dreamer - I wasn't taking issue with your financial prudence, just the assertion that M owners only buy one so that they can say they have the top of the range model. I owned a 3 litre for 5 years and 90k miles. They are great but the M is so much quicker. Quicker in every gear whatever the revs and much quicker on the motorway. Comparing a 3 litre with an aftermarket exhaust to a stock M isn't a true comparison. You know that with the same exhaust the M will sound the best.
I suppose it comes down to whether you are a spender or saver. There isn't enough space here to debate the merits of each approach.
Dreamer - I wasn't taking issue with your financial prudence, just the assertion that M owners only buy one so that they can say they have the top of the range model. I owned a 3 litre for 5 years and 90k miles. They are great but the M is so much quicker. Quicker in every gear whatever the revs and much quicker on the motorway. Comparing a 3 litre with an aftermarket exhaust to a stock M isn't a true comparison. You know that with the same exhaust the M will sound the best.
Original Guv
Lets be clear - I dont think the OP was completely accurate about what was included in his outgoings to end up with 800 a month. It seems less than he thought reading his following posts. But i will stick with that not being much to live on as a single fella. All bills are on him now. He will undoubtably get girls out on dates - meal for two at Zizzi's and a few drinks after - thats gotta be a hundred quid. Do that a few times a month and he's on beans on toast and wondering if he can fill the car up that week. Not ideal.
The spend/save debate - well as far as i can see we're in cyberspace so there is in fact more than enough space to debate the merits should we both want to and thats what the first post asked us to do really. Its a forum so things like that are thankfully discussed so people like us come back to post because we have an opinion we like expressing.
I know you think the same way because If posts went: My windscreen wipers dont work anymore [next post] buy some new wipers [next post] thanks, then neither of us would come back and enjoy the place.
As for the M being quicker, well yes of course it has more power. Would an established racing driver wipe the floor with one in a 3.0si against an average driver point to point - yes. I think im delving into what you want the car for here. You say the M is quicker on the motorway, this seems an odd statement to me. I drive my car with 'vigour' shall we say quite often, but when im anywhere near a motorway ive got cruise control on and no real need to see my speed increase in increments much more than the law and decency allows. Going a bit quicker in a straight line doesnt really do much for me.
Im not anti-M, you know im not. I would love one but i prefer to bolster my savings and indulge myself in what some would think is an expensive social life. Lets face it though its just bloody expensive to have a social life nowadays. Try living in London and taking a few girls out a week and you will quickly see your monthly budget die a death
But i did say, and i will stick with my post that SOME drivers just want the top end model so's they have it. Of course they do. Your not all buying them to hit the nurburg every week. Most of you have them because you like having that little bit of extra oomph, for the same reason i have a 3.0 and not a 2.0.
If anything what im doing is championing the merits of the 3.0. So have you a little now i read your post. For the money it is simply f'in brilliant, and for someone that doesnt want the expense of an M it delivers a HUGE comparable amount for less money.
We may be different here as you say 'they are great but the M is so much quicker'. Again we're into the purpose for which you want the car.
As you have read i like getting my car out on track quite a bit so that i can really explore what its limits are. Being quicker involves me becoming (slowly) a better driver, and less to do with the cars power output. When a car has its suspension and brakes sorted out and a more commited driver its suprising how little difference a 100 more horses makes against another car.
I never compared my 3.0 with aftermarket exhaust to an M in its entireity, just the sound. And thats just how i feel. Ive been at trackdays with Flatout who has a Z4M with its aftermarket exhaust and i didnt quite like the sound of it. Im not really into the metallicy sound of the M engine, call me weird all you like
So, all things considered im now quite intrigued to know if you would still recommend the OP gets an ///M
Lets be clear - I dont think the OP was completely accurate about what was included in his outgoings to end up with 800 a month. It seems less than he thought reading his following posts. But i will stick with that not being much to live on as a single fella. All bills are on him now. He will undoubtably get girls out on dates - meal for two at Zizzi's and a few drinks after - thats gotta be a hundred quid. Do that a few times a month and he's on beans on toast and wondering if he can fill the car up that week. Not ideal.
The spend/save debate - well as far as i can see we're in cyberspace so there is in fact more than enough space to debate the merits should we both want to and thats what the first post asked us to do really. Its a forum so things like that are thankfully discussed so people like us come back to post because we have an opinion we like expressing.
I know you think the same way because If posts went: My windscreen wipers dont work anymore [next post] buy some new wipers [next post] thanks, then neither of us would come back and enjoy the place.
As for the M being quicker, well yes of course it has more power. Would an established racing driver wipe the floor with one in a 3.0si against an average driver point to point - yes. I think im delving into what you want the car for here. You say the M is quicker on the motorway, this seems an odd statement to me. I drive my car with 'vigour' shall we say quite often, but when im anywhere near a motorway ive got cruise control on and no real need to see my speed increase in increments much more than the law and decency allows. Going a bit quicker in a straight line doesnt really do much for me.
Im not anti-M, you know im not. I would love one but i prefer to bolster my savings and indulge myself in what some would think is an expensive social life. Lets face it though its just bloody expensive to have a social life nowadays. Try living in London and taking a few girls out a week and you will quickly see your monthly budget die a death
But i did say, and i will stick with my post that SOME drivers just want the top end model so's they have it. Of course they do. Your not all buying them to hit the nurburg every week. Most of you have them because you like having that little bit of extra oomph, for the same reason i have a 3.0 and not a 2.0.
If anything what im doing is championing the merits of the 3.0. So have you a little now i read your post. For the money it is simply f'in brilliant, and for someone that doesnt want the expense of an M it delivers a HUGE comparable amount for less money.
We may be different here as you say 'they are great but the M is so much quicker'. Again we're into the purpose for which you want the car.
As you have read i like getting my car out on track quite a bit so that i can really explore what its limits are. Being quicker involves me becoming (slowly) a better driver, and less to do with the cars power output. When a car has its suspension and brakes sorted out and a more commited driver its suprising how little difference a 100 more horses makes against another car.
I never compared my 3.0 with aftermarket exhaust to an M in its entireity, just the sound. And thats just how i feel. Ive been at trackdays with Flatout who has a Z4M with its aftermarket exhaust and i didnt quite like the sound of it. Im not really into the metallicy sound of the M engine, call me weird all you like
So, all things considered im now quite intrigued to know if you would still recommend the OP gets an ///M
Wondermike said:
That is worst case scenario though isn't it...
Depreciation will only be that bad if you buy from a main dealer and then sell private I reckon. But your not far off I give you that. Insurance £1800? I'm 29 and I pay £961. I won't go in to warranty arguments again, but I've owned the car a year and put £100 away a month, so equivalent to the warranty. Two things have failed in that year. A bonnet catch which cost me £12 and a headlight washer which was just shy of £100. I just spent the other £900 on a holiday to Kenya. Warranty is a way of lining the dealers pockets.
It was based on costs over 2 yearsHark said:
OK...I don't tend to be someone that spends a huge amount of time working through the numbers to account for every last $. When there are bigger things at play that are totally out of my control (Wall St, EURO dept crisis) that have the potential to profoundly effect my personal finances, I figure why sweat it too much.
I took a year off work in 2006 to travel around Australia with my wife and two kids. Best year of my life
But of course there were plenty who expressed the opinion that it was reckless / indulgent etc, etc :thumbsdown: Frankly I pity those people. The year off was full of family experiences that in my view money can't buy.
5 years later I've just bought my Z4MC, and yes I still have the wife and two kids :wink: , and guess what, I hear the same again. "Not very practical" to which I say who cares...it's FUN! BTW my wife runs an Audi A6 Avant, so we already do practical.
Anyway, I'm sure you've caught the drift of this...life is short. If you can enjoy it you should. My advice...go and buy an M. You'll love every moment you're behind the wheel
I took a year off work in 2006 to travel around Australia with my wife and two kids. Best year of my life
But of course there were plenty who expressed the opinion that it was reckless / indulgent etc, etc :thumbsdown: Frankly I pity those people. The year off was full of family experiences that in my view money can't buy.
5 years later I've just bought my Z4MC, and yes I still have the wife and two kids :wink: , and guess what, I hear the same again. "Not very practical" to which I say who cares...it's FUN! BTW my wife runs an Audi A6 Avant, so we already do practical.
Anyway, I'm sure you've caught the drift of this...life is short. If you can enjoy it you should. My advice...go and buy an M. You'll love every moment you're behind the wheel
Enjoyed reading this thread! Not least for the picture, thanks Dreamer :wink: (Didn't realise you're only 33 btw... )
So then Chunkomunko, have we decided what we want to do?? (Welcome btw) Sounds like you've been giving it some serious thought and not just an impulse buy because you've got rid of the "thumb" I hope you've given the 3.0 a lot of thought, it's a fantastic car and will cost you less than the M. Might be a better option to start with.
)So then Chunkomunko, have we decided what we want to do?? (Welcome btw) Sounds like you've been giving it some serious thought and not just an impulse buy because you've got rid of the "thumb"
I hope you've given the 3.0 a lot of thought, it's a fantastic car and will cost you less than the M. Might be a better option to start with.